The Run Down
The Braves graduated only one player this past year, I think you’ve heard of him – Jason Heyward. With five players in my Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Prospects list (Freeman, Teheran, Kimbrel, Delgado, Beachy, and the overlooked Mike Minor due to a confusion on rookie eligibility), there should be some darkhorse Rookie of the Year candidates down in Atlanta. (If you’re wondering, I would place Minor 5th on the top 50.) There are openings in the Braves bullpen for Craig Kimbrel to take over as closer, an opening for the fifth starter position for Minor or Beachy and the first base position is Freddie Freeman’s for the taking. Their system’s pitching depth is amazing, most notably Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado and Arodys Vizcaino. Unfortunately, their hitting prospects aren’t great beyond Freeman. There won’t be an impact bat from their minors unless they make a trade. Here’s to hoping Kimbrel earns the closer job and Freeman provides some value in the later rounds of your fantasy draft.

#17 (TOR) Tyler Pastornicky | SS/2B | D.o.B: 12-13-89 | Stats (A+/AA): 421 AB | .257/.343/.373 | 31 XBH | 8 Hr | .126 ISO | 35/9 SB/CS | 71:55 K:BB | .292 BABIP (A+); .290 BABIP (AA)
Received in the Yunel Escobar/Alex Gonzalez trade, Pastornicky’s greatest asset is speed. He can play a sound shortstop or second base. Meaning, he’ll get a chance in the majors eventually due to his defense more than his offense. Brief breakdown, in High-A he had 287 at-bats – all with Toronto – and 160 at bats at Double-A all with Atlanta. Won’t hit for good average or power. Strictly a SAGNOF callout.

#3 Julio Teheran | RHP | D.o.B: 1-27-91 | Stats (A/A+/AA): 10.0 K/9 | 2.5 BB/9 | 142 2/3 IP | 2.59 ERA | 2.39 FIP (A); 2.88 FIP (A+); 3.30 FIP (AA) | 1.04 WHIP | .6 Hr/9 | 6.8 H/9 | .237 BABIP (A); .313 BABIP (A+); .260 BABIP (AA)
Easily the best story of the 2010 minor league year. Teheran throws a 92 to 96 MPH fastball, an above-average changeup, and a more consistent breaking pitch. Mechanically speaking, he has an ugly delivery. With 39 1/3 innings at Low-A, 63 1/3 innings at High-A and 40 innings at Double-A, Teheran put up solid numbers. He put up similar numbers at Low and High-A but Double-A saw a dip in K/9 (8.6) and an increase in BB/9 (3.8). I’ll blame some of that on fatigue. He was quite lucky at Low-A and Double-A but his FIP indicated that he pitched solidly. Teheran is considered a top 5 pitching prospect in the minors, if not top three. Listed at number 19 on the Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Prospects list.

#7 Randall Delgado | RHP | D.o.B: 12-9-90 | Stats (A+/AA): 9.1 K/9 | 2.9BB/9 | 161 IP | 3.30 ERA | 2.93 FIP (A+); 3.38 FIP (AA) | 1.10 WHIP | .5 Hr/9 | 7.0 H/9 | .271 BABIP (A+); .274 BABIP (AA)
In any other system, Delgado would be their top pitching prospect. With a 96 MPH fastball, a good curveball and a good changeup, he pitched well in 117 1/3 innings at High-A, but struggled during his 43 2/3 innings at Double-A (8.7 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 ). This could potentially be fatigue on a young arm, but he still held his own as indicated by a 3.38 FIP at Double-A. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Delgado before Teheran in the majors. Ceiling is a number two starter. Listed at number 32 on the Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Prospects list.

Pitchers#3 (NYY) Arodys Vizcaino | RHP | D.o.B: 11-13-90 | Stats (A): 8.5 K/9 | 1.1 BB/9 | 71 2/3 IP | 2.39 ERA | 1.99 FIP | 1.01 WHIP | .1 Hr/9 | 7.9 H/9 | .294 BABIP
Vizcaino had an elbow injury during the middle of the year. He did not have surgery and is expected to be recovered for the 2011 season. He’ll start back at High-A where he pitched 13 2/3 innings with a 7.2 K/9 and a 2.0 BB/9. He has great upside if healthy. My 2009 Minor League Review of Vizcaino still stands, “Know how Neftali and Elvis Andrus were the gems of the Texiera trade with Texas? Well, Vizcaino is the gem from the Javier Vazquez trade to the Yankees. Throwing a 90 to 94 mph fastball that tops at 96 mph, a sick-nasty curve was said to be second only to A.J. Burnett while still with the Yankees, and a change-up that needs a lot of work, Vizcaino has the potential to be a dominate, top-of-the-rotation, pitchers. His strikeout rates were awesome, his walk rates were average and to think he is only going to be 19. 2010 will be his first full season of baseball, and if all goes well, he’ll develop the same kind of hype that Tommy Hanson and Clayton Kershaw received before they were promoted to the majors.” Temper the expectations a bit. Might be pushed to the bullpen due to frame, injury concerns and durability. Still has long term upside.

Great write-up. I love following the Braves farm system. I like Beachy and think that he could be a solid middle reliever with spot starts this year when Jurrgens gets hurt. Any idea why he was undrafted? Is it because he was a position player/crossover at a small school?